‘Savarkar most punished freedom fighter’: School quiz question sparks row in Kerala
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.On August 6, a question in a school quiz in Kerala’s Kasaragod district sparked a major political row and led to the suspension of the teacher who set the quiz. Which freedom fighter received the "most severe punishment" from the British, the quiz master Guru Prasad asked, to which the students were expected to answer, VD Savarkar.Guru Prasad, a teacher at AUP School Pallathadukka in Kumbla, has been suspended pending inquiry by the Kerala Education Department. General Education Minister N Samsudheen has ordered an inquiry, stating the question lacked official departmental authorisation.The Director of General Education (DGE) has also directed the Deputy Director of Education, Kasaragod, to initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings against the teacher and conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter.Reports suggest that Guru Prasad plans to approach the Kerala High Court over the state government's action.The news received sharp criticism from the Opposition, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] blaming the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of aiding the saffronisation of education, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extending support to the teacher and protesting his suspension.CPI(M) veteran and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan strongly protested the question, alleging an attempt to saffronise education and promote a specific political narrative. Pinarayi also alleged that "the move to glorify Savarkar is part of the UDF government’s collusion with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)."Meanwhile, the Kasaragod district leadership of the BJP held a demonstration against the action taken against Guru Prasad. On Monday, August 10, BJP workers also staged a protest during an event at Kasaragod attended by Minister N Shamsudheen. BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar demanded the immediate revocation of his suspension, claiming the teacher asked a “historically accurate” question about Savarkar. “It is a stark wake-up call exposing the conspiracy to rewrite and erase the true history of our land. Today, the Muslim League is using state power to punish an educator for teaching documented historical facts. This proves what we have said all along: the weak VD Satheesan government is entirely held hostage by the Muslim League,” he wrote on X.VD Savarkar was a controversial figure, known as the ideologue of right-wing Hindu nationalism. He spent around 14 years in prison, on various charges relating to subversion and incitement to war. However, he filed multiple clemency and mercy petitions during his time in prison to get released. He was also an accused in the assassination of MK Gandhi and was acquitted because of the lack of evidence.
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
ON August 6, a question in a school quiz in Kasaragod district sparked a major political row and led to the suspension of the teacher who set the quiz.
Which freedom fighter received the "most severe punishment" from the British, the quiz master Guru Prasad asked, to which the students were expected to answer, VD Savarkar.
Guru Prasad, a teacher at AUP School Pallathadukka in Kumbla, has been suspended pending inquiry by the Kerala Education Department. General Education Minister N Samsudheen has ordered an inquiry, stating the question lacked official departmental authorisation.
The Director of General Education (DGE) has also directed the Deputy Director of Education, Kasaragod, to initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings against the teacher and conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Reports suggest that Guru Prasad plans to approach the Kerala High Court over the state government's action.
The news received sharp criticism from the Opposition, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] blaming the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of aiding the saffronisation of education, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extending support to the teacher and protesting his suspension.
CPI(M) veteran and leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan strongly protested the question, alleging an attempt to saffronise education and promote a specific political narrative. Pinarayi also alleged that "the move to glorify Savarkar is part of the UDF government’s collusion with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)."
Meanwhile, the Kasaragod district leadership of the BJP held a demonstration against the action taken against Guru Prasad. On Monday, August 10, BJP workers also staged a protest during an event at Kasaragod attended by Minister N Shamsudheen.
BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar demanded the immediate revocation of his suspension, claiming the teacher asked a “historically accurate” question about Savarkar.
“It is a stark wake-up call exposing the conspiracy to rewrite and erase the true history of our land. Today, the Muslim League is using state power to punish an educator for teaching documented historical facts. This proves what we have said all along: the weak VD Satheesan government is entirely held hostage by the Muslim League,” he wrote on X.
VD Savarkar was a controversial figure, known as the ideologue of right-wing Hindu nationalism. He spent around 14 years in prison on various charges relating to subversion and incitement to war. However, he filed multiple clemency and mercy petitions during his time in prison to get released. He was also an accused in the assassination of MK Gandhi and was acquitted because of the lack of evidence.
